Volvo 900 series vs Volvo V40: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Volvo 900 series
69%
MOT pass rate · 46,701 vehicles
Volvo V40
74%
MOT pass rate · 171,790 vehicles
More reliable
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Volvo V40 is the more reliable of the two — 74% pass first time versus 69%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Volvo 900 series | Volvo V40 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 69% | 74% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 31% | 26% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.2 | 1.9 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 0% ✓ | 2% |
| Average mileage | 159,944 mi | 106,048 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 46,701 | 171,790 |
Most common faults
Volvo 900 series
- Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
- Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
- Oil leak
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Volvo V40
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Volvo V40 is the more reliable of the two — 74% pass first time versus 69%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Volvo 900 series report Full Volvo V40 report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.